Dark Friends Read Free

evening.
                  “No, I did it last time.” Gene retorted.
                  “I don’t care! Get it done and get it done now!” Ellis hollered, his patience breaking. Whoever he chose would be in for a long night of driving and risk.
                  “Do it, Gene.” Ellis said finally.
                  “Yes sir.” Gene replied, chugging her glass of gin.
     
                  Since Amelia had arrived at Lisson orphanage, she had felt only fear and oppression. But tonight was different. She felt…excited. She waited until the lights were turned off and the counselors left the room, then she crept silently towards Sabrina’s bunk. Sabrina was awake and her eyes registered shock when Amelia’s pale white face appeared inches from her own,
                  “Who are you?” Sabrina asked.
                  “I’m Amelia.”
                  “What do you want? You shouldn’t be here. If we get caught talking then we’ll be punished.” 
                  “I just want to be friends. I haven’t talked to anyone since I got here and I thought maybe you would want to have a friend…”
                  “Stop!” Sabrina’s voice got dangerously loud, “I don’t want a friend! You’re gonna get me in trouble!” Amelia recognized the look of horror in Sabrina’s eyes, it was the same look she had after she had been punished on the first day. Amelia knew that she should go back to her bunk, but her overwhelming curiosity forced more words out of her mouth,
                  “What happened on the first day? Where did they take you? What did they do?” Amelia pressed on, but Sabrina’s eyes had already glazed over, terror paralyzing her vocal cords. Amelia knew she would get nothing out of Sabrina then, so she kissed her on the cheek and slogged back to her own bunk, disappointed. She had been looking forward to conversing with Sabrina all day and the silly girl thought that the counselors were omniscient, monitoring their every move.  Amelia closed her eyes and vowed that she would never be so scared of someone that she lost touch with reality.  She was still in the moments before sleep took her, the moments where you don’t know if you’re awake or dreaming, when a counselor entered the dormitory. Amelia wouldn’t have sensed the woman’s presence if she hadn’t let the door slam so loudly, apparently unconcerned that she might rouse witnesses.
                  Her name was Gene.  Amelia remembered that Ellis had called her by that name a few days after Amelia had arrived.  What was Gene doing? Amelia kept one eye closed and her breathing rhythmic as she watched Gene go to Sabrina’s bed and wake her up.  Sabrina let out a yelp as Gene grabbed her hair and unceremoniously half-dragged her out of the dorm,  making lots of noise but never hesitating or slowing down.  As soon as they were gone Amelia ran to the door and pressed her ear against it, but the sounds of Sabrina’s struggle faded after a minute and Amelia wiped a tear from her eye.  She did not know why she was crying, only that the dread in her soul was as valid as anything she had ever felt.  She went back to her bed and her mind played out a thousand terrible scenes, each one more likely than the previous. She kept her eye on the door as she tried to fall asleep, fearful that she would be taken in the night.
     
                                * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
                  “Get up” the voice was youthful, feminine and hurried, “get up!”
                  “I’m up, I’m up.” Amelia groaned. It had been a long day in the laundry room and her body ached from carrying the great baskets of clothes. Her mental fog lifted slightly as a great explosion sounded outside and Amelia felt like a building had imploded next to her